Zero Waste Aotearoa is committed to building a waste-free future together with communities across Aotearoa. We know that is not going to happen without a clear vision for the whole country that includes implementing system-level solutions using the waste hierarchy to address the root causes of waste. It also includes bringing everyone together and along on the journey towards a Tiriti based, community led resourceful future.
That’s why we are stretching out from being the Zero Waste Network to Zero Waste Aotearoa.
Our beginnings
Zero Waste Aotearoa has a long and beautiful history that all started with Warren Snow, Gerry Gillespie and Julie Dickinson who got everyone excited about setting up community facilities back at the turn of the century
Community enterprise leaders like Rick Thorpe, Cliff Colquhoun, Sheryl Stivens, Gary Kelk, John Ransley and Josie Uren got together to work for collective interest in the sector, and started the Community Recycling Network (CRN).
The CRN sat under the Community Enterprise Network Trust which related to a particular type of community-led business model that put business to work for the community’s good.. It was really the precursor to today’s ‘social enterprise’.
Advocacy and project development work gradually expanded under the Zero Waste Network umbrella.
Our members
Our members have always been the backbone of our organisation. We will continue to grow and expand our membership base. We are committed to working together as a network of practical, solutions-focused organisations that are deeply rooted in communities across the country.
Our expanding roles: business development and advocacy
We are embracing community enterprise and business development opportunities around zero waste. Our commercial arm, Localised, is engaged in projects in Auckland and Wellington, and is seeking partnerships to extend the benefits of practical zero waste to communities across Aotearoa NZ.
Along with that network role, Zero Waste Aotearoa will be stepping up work at a national and international level to champion best practice, indigenous solutions and innovative ideas, engage with government, business, civil society and households and challenge false solutions to waste and climate change.
In terms of solutions, we’ve got a great campaign laser focused on getting a container return scheme. A container deposit return scheme is a practical, cost effective way to help New Zealanders reduce litter, waste less and recycle more. Schemes are already being used in 57 countries and states to collect drink containers and cover the real cost of recycling.
In terms of challenging false solutions, our Regeneration Not Incineration campaign is standing with communities across Aotearoa to resist the building of toxic incinerators.